Wheel for tank structures



June 3, 1952 J, E, CHRlSTlE 2,599,233

WHEEL FOR TANK STRUCTURES Filed July l5, 1951 2 SHEETS- SHEET l E Isbmw/QL. ./1- i I j. 15 if. I 36 Q INVENTOR i. y Jamie/waa 'BY E ATTORNEYJune 3, 1952 J, E, CHRlS-HE 2,599,233

WHEEL FOR TANK STRUCTURES Filed July 13, 1951 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 E'.Ulft-15H8, BY @de wm ATTORNEY Patented June 3, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENTGFFICEA 2,599,233 WHEEL Foa TANK STRUCTURES 'John Edward christie,Arlington, ya.

appncaumnv July 13, 1951, serial No. 236,676

4 Claims. l

The present invention relates to new and improved tank or tractorstructures, and more particularly, to improvements in the wheels orsprockets for the track of such structures.

An important object of the invention is to provide the power wheel of atank or similar vehicle with improved roller construction to be engagedby the fin or lug-of the track section during travel of said vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a power wheel of the abovecharacter constructed so as to eliminate the possibility of dirt packingaround the rollers causing damage thereto and also eliminating thedanger of track tongues slipping and jamming over rollers usually causedby the rollers being packed with dirt or debris.

A further object of the invention is to provide a power wheel havingconcaved rollers arranged in spaced relation thereon which is of simpleyet sturdy construction and designed so as to overcome difficulties nowpresent in vehicles of this kind.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wheel construction fortank and similar vehicles including a dual rim assembly supportingtherebetween a series of concave rollers, each rim of the assembly beingformed with a ange portion for confining each end of the rollers therebypreventing the accumulation of dirt, debris and the like on the rollerswhich would tend to interfere with the normal travel of the track tongueduring operation of the vehicle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a wheel of theabove character which is formed with a tapered hub portion against whichdirt, debris and the like will be deposited from the track anddischarged therefrom on the outside of the wheel.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art, from a consideration of thefollowing description of certain specific embodiments of the invention,shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a partial side elevational view of a tank of the type withwhich the present invention may be used.

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the new and improved power wheelremoved from the tank.

Figure 3 is an end view of one form of power wheel in accordance withthe present invention.

Figure 4 is a sectional view thereof.

Figure 5 is an end view of a modified form of Wheel.

` 2 Figure 6 is a sectional view thereof. Referring to the drawings fora more detailed description thereof, a tank of the type with which theinvention is used is generally designated vby the reference numeral 8and comprises an armoured body 9, gun mounts IS, a plurality of guidewheels II, I 2, I3 and I4 and power wheel I5. As is to be understood,the track I6 is trained over the wheels II, I2, I3 and IIA and is drivenby power derived from the wheel I5.v

This wheel I 5 may be of the type shown in Figure 3 or 5 of the drawingssince concave rollers are provided in either form. 'The Figure 3 form ofwheel isused when a double track is to be employed,A said trackextending in parallel relation and each section thereof being formedwith projecting ns for engagement with the rollers, as will behereinafter more fully described. In the form of the invention shown inFigures 3 and 4, the wheel I5 is made up of inner and outer sections I'Iand I 8 and an intermediate section I9. The section VI is formed with aplurality of equally spaced recesses 2i) for receiving one end of theconcave rollers 22 and the adjacent face 23 of the section I9 islikewise formed with a plurality of equally spaced recesses 24 forreceiving the other end of the rollers 22. As shown in Figure 4 of thedrawings the recesses 20 and 24 are formed so as to provide'y lipportions 25 and 26 respectively, which have a relatively closed fit witheach end of the rollers. This means of supporting the rollers willsubstantially preclude dirt, debris and the like from packing in andaround the rollers with the refsultant damage to the rollers and thetrack passing thereover. Each roller is removably held in the recessesby means of pins 2l carrying nuts 28 at each end thereof disposed incountersunk recesses 2Q formed in the sections Il and I9. It isunderstood that the rollers can be readily ref placed by removing thepins and nuts when occasion demands renewal or replacement of therollers. y f

The means of confining andsupporting Athe rollers 33 between section I8and the adjacent A face 3l of section I9is the same as that abovedescribed. The rollers 3B are equally spaced the same as rollers 22 butare alternately disposed relative thereto.

The sections I'I and I8 are formed with an annular shoulder portion 32and 33 on which are pressed rims 34 and 35, said rims carrying tires 36and 31 respectively. The tires 36 and 31 are proportioned so as toextend beyond the perphery of the sections I l, I8 and I9 and thusprevent ground engagement of said sections during travel of the vehicle.In other words the only point of contact of the wheel I5 with the groundis through the tires 36 and 3l'.

An added feature of the improved wheel in accordance with the presentinvention resides in the provision of a tapered hub portion by means ofwhich said wheel will clean itself of mud and foreign substances` andmoveY such substances outwardly?y off'theivehicland freeeof the trackerchain. The intermediate section I9 has its central portion formed with ahub 38, said hub extending through the sections I'I and I8 and`presenting tapered surfaces 39 and 4th Thee-.hub 38 is centrally boredas indicated at 4I, said bore adapted to receive the splinedshaftofamotor; not shown, for driving the wheel. ISinthe con-- ventionalmanner.

In the operation of the vehicle, as the` wheel I5 is power driven and'.caused to rotate, the

chain or track; I- passes; around said, wheel. Each full 4widthtracksection has.-` formed; on; its imporl or.: inner surfaceaz,.projecting fin or lug 452i.. Theiinsvarepreferably"generally-triangue l'ar in; outline, as shownY in Figure;1, and are adaptecttoe engage therollers 22 and' 3U carriedbie-thezwheel., Any.y dirt; mild',V foreign surface or ther: becominglodged between the links of the; cliaini will become compressed and,suIose` quently pushed through a.` passage-inthe-chain and: will bedepositedv on, vone' of the. tapered suracesi 3S or; lillffondischargelaterally through the?.respective sections IzVIV and, I The:-f oreig nsnbstancei beingv discharged away,- from the w-lieelf.- will` obviate.-the, possibility. 'Qfa 11?...Qol1lecting beneath; the: chain; or trackYcausing; slippage?, Yof the; lugszlr;v aand;-Y iemmingf of;vthefrollersf.

Igngtheaformiof; the inventiongshowninEigures 5tamid6j;thezvdieelAIis-zfrrnedgcf; dual'. setns tlf" andi i815; The-r rollers 22;.y are'Supportediin theev manner: previously described. that... isz.byrorxningf opposedrecesses 43 4,4; in the .ad-4 j -aoentrfacesfof1the:sectionsr I--'I and; I8" respecf tively-r` They ends;L of; therollers; aree protected fronridirtapackine: therearound by Y means: of,the l lizg-poxtionsf and; 46, andjsaidgrollersarciemovabliizfheld; inpositioni by'meansi of; loins` el axnlzlopk nutsrd, saidxlock .nutsbeing. disposed 13?.' .G5211lltersunkrecesses?49: in, the outeryfaeef,of

eaehrsection; I'I'- and; I-8ff. Each section Il" and I 4 wheel can beformed with spokes 54 as shown in broken lines in Figure 2 of thedrawings. Such a construction may sometimes be desirable for addingrigidity and strength to the wheel.

I claim:

l. A wheel adapted for use with an endless track adapted to pass aroundthe wheel and provided with driving ns, said wheel comprising aplurality of annular sections, each section formed?. with". a.: 'seriesofi" oppositely disposed spaced recesses, rollers supported b'etweensaid sections and having each end thereof coniined Within said recesses,means for removably attaohirrgsaidrollers to said sections and one ofsaid sections carrying means enabling said wheel` to'bef power drivenwhereby the fins of saidfendlessstrack. are brought into engagement withsaid rollers.

A-wheel adapted for use with an endless track adapted to pass;- aroundthe Wheel and provided vwith drivingins,` .said wheel. comprisinglaaplmrality of l annularf'sectionsi1-each: section formedfwith.- aseries.:V ofl oppositely disposed spaced recesses, rollers: supportedlbetween said sections. and.` havingv each; end thereof conned wthin saidrecesses, said recesses being;y formed so asrtofprovide'an overhanging.lip portionfor protecting each'. endV of therollers from dirt packingtherearoundgasthe endlesstrack passes around the. wheel,means; for;removably.- attaching, said.r rollers to .f said i sections', and one'.`of, said sections carrying` means enabling; said a wheel tobespeuren-driven .u-herebythe ins oisa-id endless trackr` are; broughtinto. engagementfwith said rollers.

3:.; vwheek. for: usef. withf an, endless trackedntedtofpassiraronnd;therwheerandprovided Wttrdriyingfinszsaid;.Wheelormedofiamil? Of emular'- s'ections; sectionprovided.with a series or onnositely'disnosedrecessesg rollerstsup.- portedvbetween .saidvsectionsi and having each end thereof confined within saidrecess, means forfremorahhr attachinasaid rollers to ,-saidi secons,.entered; hub:\on;..one; of; said` sections: and extendingf'ifnwardsections; sie: as tobedisposed .ber-mathY saidlrollers; and means;engaging said hub;I enablingsaid Wheelftovbepowen driven-wherebi7 theiinsof said endlessrz trackv a-rebronglfitA intov engage* ment.withvsaid rollers.

4. A wheel. for.- use..Y with 4an;V endless track adapted; vto passaround the wheel, and :provided with drivingfins. Said'. wheelYcomprising;` a. contralannularssection andf inner and: outer annue larsections,l aV series, of; rollers supported between: saidvv central and.outer sections, az. second series of rolle-rs supportedv between. said.central and inner sections, said central. sectioniorrned with.V a.. hub.taperingtowa-rd said. inner'. and.. outer sections.the.tapered .portionofthe` hubA being disposed; beneathi each series ofK rollers, and meansfenabling2 said.v wheelto.. befpower. driven whereby. they ns, of, said.endless track are brought into engagement with saidv rollers;

JOI-IN- EDWARD CHRISTIE;

No referencescited f toward; the other of, said Y

